Obituaries: August 19, 2012

Dennis Ball Sr.
Dennis William Ball Sr., of Zeeland, born on July 4, 1955, passed away at home on August 15, 2012 after a long and courageous battle with cancer.
Dennis loved the outdoors, had a great passion for hunting and fishing, tinkering, and telling stories. He proudly served in the Marine Corp. from 1972 to 1976. One of his greatest joys was spending time with his grandchildren, attending many of their sports activities and teaching them to hunt and fish. Dennis traveled with the Marine Corp., lived in Alaska for many years, and visited many interesting places in his life always loving to share his experiences.
He will be lovingly remembered and greatly missed by his wife, Sue Ella; parents: Alvin and Marguerite Ball of Sault St. Marie, MI; mother and father- in- law: Mary and Floyd Wierda of Lake Placid, FL; daughters: Lylania and Chad Aalderink of Fennville; Rochelle and Jason VanDerKamp of Hamilton; son, Dennis and Jenna Ball, Jr. of Holland; brothers: Edward Ball of Bradford, OH, Rodney and Bonnie Ball of Zeeland, Jim Ball of Palmer, AK, Jerry and Laurie Ball of Trout Lake, MI, Carl and Marcia Ball of Sault Ste. Marie, MI; sister-in-law, Carrie and Wayne Sullivan of Lake Placid, FL; brothers-in-la: George and Julie Wierda of St. Augustine, FL, and Mark and Cherie Wierda of Williston, FL; grandchildren: Dylan, Blake, and Conner Aalderink; Gavin, Zachary, Marissa, and Ethan VanDerKamp; and Asher Ball; many special aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and friends.
Dennis’s wishes were to be cremated and that there not be any visitation or funeral services. A celebration Dennis’s of life is being planned for Saturday, September 22, 2012 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Chick-Owa Sportsman’s Club, Holland, MI, where he spent many happy hours.
In honor of Dennis, and in lieu of flowers an account has been set up at Macatawa Bank, Zeeland, the Dennis Ball Memorial Fund, to be distributed to a couple of local children’s hunting and outdoor programs and a homeless veteran program.
We would like to thank all of the great hospital and medical staff we have encountered on this journey and family and friends for all of the support and well wishes.
You are welcome to sign the online guest book and share your memories at: www.lakeshorememorial.com.
Rita R. Hill
Lifelong Newberry resident, Rita R. Hill, 54, died Thursday morning August 16, 2012 at Marquette General Hospital with her loving family at her side following a courageous battle with cancer.
Born December 11, 1957 in Newberry, daughter of Roy A. Sr. & Virgene (Miller) Swanson, Rita was a 1976 graduate of Newberry High School. Rita attended Northwestern College in Traverse City, receiving a degree as a Licensed Practical Nurse, and was employed at the former Newberry Regional Mental Health Center for three years. Rita later attended Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste. Marie, continuing her education in law enforcement. She had been employed as a correction officer at the Newberry Correctional Facility since June of 1996 until her retirement in 2012 due to her declining health. Rita‘s hobbies and interests included exercising, cleaning and her two pug dogs Carter and Gus, but her favorite joy was spending time with her family and spoiling her grandchildren.
Rita is preceded in death by her father Roy on July 9, 1993.
Survivors include her loving husband, Michael of Newberry; mother, Virgene Swanson of Newberry; sons: Jason (Jamie) Fossitt of Onondaga and Jeff (Nikki) Fossitt of Newberry; step-children: Jamie (John) Styes of Newberry, Jason (Emily) Hill of Marengo, OH and Missy (Aaron) Mills of Newberry; grandchildren: Jalen, Jackson, Teagan, Jourdan, Brett and Avery; siblings: Becky (Doug) Smutek of Newberry and Roy A. Jr. (Laurie) of Sault Ste. Marie; nieces and nephews.
Per request, cremation services were accorded. Friends may call at St. Gregory’s Catholic Church in Newberry on Friday, August 24, 2012 from 10-11 a.m. A Memorial Mass celebrating the life of Rita R. Hill will follow at 11 a.m. with Fr. Frank Ricca officiating. Rite of Committal will take place at Forest Home Cemetery in Newberry.
Memorials may be directed to the Helen Newberry Joy Hospital Chemotherapy Room A in memory of Rita R. Hill.
Condolences may be expressed at www.beaulieufuneralhome.com. Beaulieu Funeral Home in Newberry is assisting the family.
Barbara Baker
Barbara Ann Hauptli Baker, age 78, passed away on August 2, 2012 in Jackson, Wyoming. She was born in Sault Ste Marie on June 26, 1934 to Clifford and Isobel Hauptli.
She was predeceased by her husband, Peter W Baker, and is survived by six children, Peter Baker, Chris Smith, Lynn Barch, Cyndie Williams, Don Baker, Nancy Buschbaum, as well as nine grandchildren and one great grandchild.
Graveside services will be held on Tuesday August 21, 2012 at 10 a.m. at Riverside Cemetery in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be left to the Bayliss Public Library.
Funeral arrangements are in the care of Hovie Funeral Home.
Death Notices
GAUTHIER III, THEODORE “Ted,” of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan passed away at the Hospice House of E.U.P. in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. He was born November 15, 1946. Arrangements are in the care of Hovie Funeral Home.
JENSEN Jr., ALWARD S., age 81, of Kinross, Michigan passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, August 16, 2012 at War Memorial Hospital. Arrangements are being handled by C.S. Mulder Funeral Home and Cremation Services.
KURKIEREWICZ, TERRANCE EDMUND, age 61, of Grawn, Michigan, formerly of Drummond Island, Michigan, died, Wednesday, August 15, 2012 at his home in Grawn. He was born April 21, 1951 in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. Funeral arrangements are in the care of Reamer Galer Funeral Home in Pickford. www.reamergalerfuneralhome.com